EatSleepFly
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 18, 2003
- Posts
- 648
Have a bit of an ethical question for the wise people of flightinfo.
I took my current job as officially a "part timer" because they didn't have any full time positions open, and I was desperate for something. Because they indicated it would lead to a full-time position as soon as they had a need, I hesitantly took it. The pay rates are the same between FT and PT, but there is no monthly guarantee and no benefits for PT. Somehow, I fell into the same 5-6 days on, 1-2 day off schedule as the full-timers. On a pager, 45 minute callout time, 24 hours a day.
They pay is good (not great), as long as I'm flying. The schedule sucks, but I knew that going in. The problem is the lack of benefits, and the fact that when I don't fly, I make nothing. That just isn't going to work for me. Like everyone else, I have bills to pay. Also, if I were unfortunate enough to get into some kind of accident, I would be in serious trouble without benefits.
Here is my dilema. I signed a one year training contract. [Pause for everyone to chime in that I'm a dumbass] My choices were sign the contract, get paid during training, or don't sign and no pay during training. I was really getting behind on bills, training pay was pretty good, and I thought that full-time employment there would come soon, so I (stupidly) signed.
Anyways, as you've probably surmised, I'm considering jumping ship. My target company at the moment is the closest competition. Here's why:
- I had interviewed there before. It went well, but at the time they didn't have any openings. So I already have a foot in the door with the CP, so to speak.
- They are in a more favorable location for me.
- I am 135 PIC current and qualified and have a few hundred hours in one of their main types.
- Their base pay and benefits are better.
- Their schedule is better.
- They seem to be growing a little faster and have more opportunity for advancement into other aircraft.
- They have pretty low turnover, and from talking to their pilots on the road, they are pretty happy there.
- They have a mix of scheduled and on-demand flying, so when the on-demand business is slow (like now), they're still doing some flying.
I live in an at-will employment state and can't imagine that a judge would enforce a training contract where I am not making a guranteed income or receiving benefits. I should add that in 5 months, I have flown as much as or more than some of the other part-timers fly in a year.
I feel that when it comes right down to it, I have to look out for myself. Will future interviewers understand my reasons when I explain that I broke a contract? Should I include something in my resignation letter (if it comes to that) about WHY I resigned (to take a full-time position w/ salary and benefits) so that future employers see that in my PRIA file if it shows up?
Opinions? Thoughts?
P.S.- There is a chance they may just let me out of the contract. When I was hesitant to sign in the first place, the DO mentioned they might be able to work with me if things were too slow to get by on. As of now, I have not given any indication that I am considering leaving.
Thanks in advance for any advice, and sorry for the long post!
I took my current job as officially a "part timer" because they didn't have any full time positions open, and I was desperate for something. Because they indicated it would lead to a full-time position as soon as they had a need, I hesitantly took it. The pay rates are the same between FT and PT, but there is no monthly guarantee and no benefits for PT. Somehow, I fell into the same 5-6 days on, 1-2 day off schedule as the full-timers. On a pager, 45 minute callout time, 24 hours a day.
They pay is good (not great), as long as I'm flying. The schedule sucks, but I knew that going in. The problem is the lack of benefits, and the fact that when I don't fly, I make nothing. That just isn't going to work for me. Like everyone else, I have bills to pay. Also, if I were unfortunate enough to get into some kind of accident, I would be in serious trouble without benefits.
Here is my dilema. I signed a one year training contract. [Pause for everyone to chime in that I'm a dumbass] My choices were sign the contract, get paid during training, or don't sign and no pay during training. I was really getting behind on bills, training pay was pretty good, and I thought that full-time employment there would come soon, so I (stupidly) signed.
Anyways, as you've probably surmised, I'm considering jumping ship. My target company at the moment is the closest competition. Here's why:
- I had interviewed there before. It went well, but at the time they didn't have any openings. So I already have a foot in the door with the CP, so to speak.
- They are in a more favorable location for me.
- I am 135 PIC current and qualified and have a few hundred hours in one of their main types.
- Their base pay and benefits are better.
- Their schedule is better.
- They seem to be growing a little faster and have more opportunity for advancement into other aircraft.
- They have pretty low turnover, and from talking to their pilots on the road, they are pretty happy there.
- They have a mix of scheduled and on-demand flying, so when the on-demand business is slow (like now), they're still doing some flying.
I live in an at-will employment state and can't imagine that a judge would enforce a training contract where I am not making a guranteed income or receiving benefits. I should add that in 5 months, I have flown as much as or more than some of the other part-timers fly in a year.
I feel that when it comes right down to it, I have to look out for myself. Will future interviewers understand my reasons when I explain that I broke a contract? Should I include something in my resignation letter (if it comes to that) about WHY I resigned (to take a full-time position w/ salary and benefits) so that future employers see that in my PRIA file if it shows up?
Opinions? Thoughts?
P.S.- There is a chance they may just let me out of the contract. When I was hesitant to sign in the first place, the DO mentioned they might be able to work with me if things were too slow to get by on. As of now, I have not given any indication that I am considering leaving.
Thanks in advance for any advice, and sorry for the long post!